Active Galactic Nuclei Selection Research Articles

Active Galactic Nuclei Selection and Demographics: A New Age with JWST/MIRI

Understanding the coevolution of supermassive black holes and their host systems requires a comprehensive census of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) behavior across a wide range of redshift, luminosity, obscuration level, and galaxy properties. We report significant progress with JWST toward this goal from the Systematic Mid-infrared Instrument Legacy Extragalactic Survey (SMILES). Based on comprehensive spectral energy distribution (SED) analysis of 3273 MIRI-detected sources, we identify 217 AGN candidates over a survey area of ∼34 arcmin2, including a primary sample of 111 AGNs in normal massive galaxies (M * > 109.5 M ☉) at z ∼ 0–4, an extended sample of 86 AGN candidates in low-mass galaxies (M * < 109.5 M ☉), and a high-z sample of 20 AGN candidates at z ∼ 4–8.4. Notably, about 80% of our MIRI-selected AGN candidates are new discoveries despite the extensive pre-JWST AGN searches. Even among the massive galaxies where the previous AGN search is believed to be thorough, 34% of the MIRI AGN identifications are new, highlighting the impact of obscuration on previous selections. By combining our results with the efforts at other wavelengths, we build the most complete AGN sample to date and examine the relative performance of different selection techniques. We find the obscured AGN fraction increases from L AGN,bol ∼ 1010 L ⊙ to 1011 L ⊙ and then drops toward higher luminosity. Additionally, the obscured AGN fraction gradually increases from z ∼ 0 to z ∼ 4 with most high-z AGNs obscured. We discuss how AGN obscuration, intrinsic SED variations, galaxy contamination, survey depth, and selection techniques complicate the construction of a complete AGN sample.

The TELPERION survey for extended emission regions around AGN: a strongly-interacting and merging galaxy sample

Abstract We present the results of a search for Extended Emission-Line Regions (EELRs) ionized by extant or recently-faded active galactic nuclei (AGN), using [O III] narrowband imaging and spectroscopic followup. The sample includes 198 galaxies in 92 strongly interacting or merging galaxy systems in the range z = 0.009 − 0.0285. Among these, three have EELRs extended beyond 10 kpc in projection from the nucleus detected in previous studies. We identify a single new distant emission region, projected 35 kpc from UGC 5941. Our optical spectrum does not detect He II, but its strong-line ratios put this in the same class as securely-characterized EELR clouds. The nucleus of UGC 5941 is dominated by recent star formation, preventing detection of any weak ongoing AGN. Overall counts of distant EELRs in this and the previous TELPERION samples give incidence 2–5% depending on galaxy and AGN selection, 20-50 times higher than the Galaxy Zoo EELR survey with its higher surface-brightness threshold and much larger input sample. AGN in interacting and merging systems have an increased detection rate 12 ± 6%, while none are detected around noninteracting AGN. Some of these AGN are at luminosity low enough to require additional X-ray or far-infrared information to tell whether the EELR ionization level suggests long-term fading.

Spectroscopic Confirmation of Obscured AGN Populations from Unsupervised Machine Learning

We present the result of a spectroscopic campaign targeting active galactic nucleus (AGN) candidates selected using a novel unsupervised machine-learning (ML) algorithm trained on optical and mid-infrared photometry. AGN candidates are chosen without incorporating prior AGN selection criteria and are fainter, redder, and more numerous, ∼340 AGN deg−2, than comparable photometric and spectroscopic samples. In this work, we obtain 178 rest-optical spectra from two candidate ML-identified AGN classes with the Hectospec spectrograph on the MMT Observatory. We find that our first ML-identified group is dominated by Type I AGNs (85%) with a <3% contamination rate from non-AGNs. Our second ML-identified group is mostly comprised of Type II AGNs (65%), with a moderate contamination rate of 15% primarily from star-forming galaxies. Our spectroscopic analyses suggest that the classes recover more obscured AGNs, confirming that ML techniques are effective at recovering large populations of AGNs at high levels of extinction. We demonstrate the efficacy of pairing existing WISE data with large-area and deep optical/near-infrared photometric surveys to select large populations of AGNs and recover obscured growth of supermassive black holes. This approach is well suited to upcoming photometric surveys, such as Euclid, Rubin, and Roman.

The impact of AGN X-ray selection on the AGN halo occupation distribution

The connection between active galactic nuclei (AGN) and their host dark matter halos provides powerful insights into how supermassive black holes (SMBHs) grow and coevolve with their host galaxies. Here we investigate the impact of observational AGN selection on the AGN halo occupation distribution (HOD) by forward-modeling AGN activity into cosmological N-body simulations. By assuming straightforward relationships between the SMBH mass, galaxy mass, and (sub)halo mass, as well as a uniform broken power law distribution of Eddington ratios, we find that luminosity-limited AGN samples result in biased HOD shapes. While AGN defined by an Eddington ratio threshold produce AGN fractions that are flat across halo mass (unbiased by definition), luminosity-limited AGN fractions peak around galaxy-group-sized halo masses and then decrease with increasing halo mass. With higher luminosities, the rise of the AGN fraction starts at higher halo masses, the peak is shifted towards higher halo masses, and the decline at higher halo masses is more rapid. These results are consistent with recent HOD constraints from AGN clustering measurements, which find (1) characteristic halo mass scales of $ Vir $h^ M_ odot and (2) a shallower rise of the number of satellite AGN with increasing halo mass than for the overall galaxy population. Thus the observational biases due to AGN selection can naturally explain the constant, characteristic halo mass scale inferred from large-scale AGN clustering amplitudes over a range of redshifts, as well as the measured inconsistencies between AGN and galaxy HODs. We conclude that AGN selection biases can have significant impacts on the inferred AGN HOD, and can therefore lead to possible misinterpretations of how AGN populate dark matter halos and the AGN-host galaxy connection.

High energy gamma-ray sources in the VVV survey - II. The AGN counterparts

ABSTRACT We identified Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) candidates as counterparts to unidentified gamma-ray sources (UGS) from the Fermi-LAT Fourth Source Catalogue at lower Galactic latitudes. Our methodology is based on the use of near- and mid-infrared photometric data from the VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) surveys. The AGN candidates associated with the UGS occupy very different regions from the stars and extragalactic sources in the colour space defined by the VVV and WISE infrared colours. We found 27 near-infrared AGN candidates possibly associated with 14 Fermi-LAT sources using the VVV survey. We also found 2 blazar candidates in the regions of 2 Fermi-LAT sources using WISE data. There is no match between VVV and WISE candidates. We have also examined the Ks light curves of the VVV candidates and applied the fractional variability amplitude (σrms) and the slope of variation in the Ks passband to characterise the near-infrared variability. This analysis shows that more than 85 per cent of the candidates have slopes in the Ks passband &amp;gt;10−4 mag/day and present σrms values consistent with a moderate variability. This is in good agreement with typical results seen from type-1 AGN. The combination of YJHKs colours and Ks variability criteria was useful for AGN selection, including its use in identifying counterparts to Fermi γ-ray sources.

AGN number fraction in galaxy groups and clusters atz&amp;lt; 1.4 from the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam survey

AbstractOne of the key questions on active galactic nuclei (AGN) in galaxy clusters is how AGN could affect the formation and evolution of member galaxies and galaxy clusters in the history of the Universe. To address this issue, we investigate the dependence of AGN number fraction (fAGN) on cluster redshift (zcl) and distance from the cluster center (R$/$R200). We focus on more than 27000 galaxy groups and clusters at 0.1 &amp;lt; zcl &amp;lt; 1.4 with more than 1 million member galaxies selected from the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam. By combining various AGN selection methods based on infrared (IR), radio, and X-ray data, we identify 2688 AGN. We find that (i) fAGN increases with zcl and (ii) fAGN decreases with R$/$R200. The main contributors to the rapid increase of fAGN towards high-z and cluster center are IR- and radio-selected AGN, respectively. These results indicate that the emergence of the AGN population depends on the environment and redshift, and galaxy groups and clusters at high z play an important role in AGN evolution. We also find that cluster–cluster mergers may not drive AGN activity in at least the cluster center, while we have tentative evidence that cluster–cluster mergers could enhance AGN activity in the outskirts of (particularly massive) galaxy clusters.

The LSST AGN Data Challenge: Selection Methods

Development of the Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) includes a series of Data Challenges (DCs) arranged by various LSST Scientific Collaborations that are taking place during the project's preoperational phase. The AGN Science Collaboration Data Challenge (AGNSC-DC) is a partial prototype of the expected LSST data on active galactic nuclei (AGNs), aimed at validating machine learning approaches for AGN selection and characterization in large surveys like LSST. The AGNSC-DC took place in 2021, focusing on accuracy, robustness, and scalability. The training and the blinded data sets were constructed to mimic the future LSST release catalogs using the data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Stripe 82 region and the XMM-Newton Large Scale Structure Survey region. Data features were divided into astrometry, photometry, color, morphology, redshift, and class label with the addition of variability features and images. We present the results of four submitted solutions to DCs using both classical and machine learning methods. We systematically test the performance of supervised models (support vector machine, random forest, extreme gradient boosting, artificial neural network, convolutional neural network) and unsupervised ones (deep embedding clustering) when applied to the problem of classifying/clustering sources as stars, galaxies, or AGNs. We obtained classification accuracy of 97.5% for supervised models and clustering accuracy of 96.0% for unsupervised ones and 95.0% with a classic approach for a blinded data set. We find that variability features significantly improve the accuracy of the trained models, and correlation analysis among different bands enables a fast and inexpensive first-order selection of quasar candidates.

X-Ray Properties of Optically Variable Low-mass AGN Candidates

We present an X-ray analysis of 14 nearby (z < 0.044) active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in low-mass galaxies (M * ≲ 5 × 109 M ⊙) selected based on their optical variability. Comparing and contrasting different AGN selection techniques in low-mass galaxies is essential for obtaining an accurate estimate of the active fraction in this regime. We use both new and archival observations from the Chandra X-ray Observatory to search for X-ray point sources consistent with AGNs. Four objects have detected nuclear X-ray emission with luminosities ranging from L 0.5−7 ≈ 3 × 1040 to 9 × 1042 erg s−1 with two more marginal detections. All of the detected galaxies have luminosities exceeding those anticipated from X-ray binaries, and all sources are nuclear, suggesting the X-ray emission in most sources is due to an AGN. These observations demonstrate the success of variability at identifying AGNs in low-mass galaxies. We also explore emission-line diagnostics and discuss the differences in the results of these methods for AGN selection, in particular regarding low-mass and low-metallicity systems.

Improving the selection of changing-look AGNs through multiwavelength photometric variability

ABSTRACT We present second epoch optical spectra for 30 changing-look (CL) candidates found by searching for Type-1 optical variability in a sample of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) spectroscopically classified as Type 2. We use a random-forest-based light-curve classifier and spectroscopic follow-up, confirming 50 per cent of candidates as turning-on CLs. In order to improve this selection method and to better understand the nature of the not-confirmed CL candidates, we perform a multiwavelength variability analysis including optical, mid-infrared (MIR), and X-ray data, and compare the results from the confirmed and not-confirmed CLs identified in this work. We find that most of the not-confirmed CLs are consistent with weak Type 1s dominated by host-galaxy contributions, showing weaker optical and MIR variability. On the contrary, the confirmed CLs present stronger optical fluctuations and experience a long (from five to ten years) increase in their MIR fluxes and the colour W1–W2 over time. In the 0.2–2.3 keV band, at least four out of 11 CLs with available SRG/eROSITA detections have increased their flux in comparison with archival upper limits. These common features allow us to select the most promising CLs from our list of candidates, leading to nine sources with similar multiwavelength photometric properties to our CL sample. The use of machine learning algorithms with optical and MIR light curves will be very useful to identify CLs in future large-scale surveys.

AGN Selection and Demographics in GOODS-S/HUDF from X-Ray to Radio

We present a comprehensive census of the active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in the GOODS-S/HUDF region from the X-ray to the radio, covering both the obscured and unobscured populations. This work includes a robust analysis of the source optical to mid-IR spectral energy distributions (SEDs) featuring (semi)empirical AGN and galaxy dust emission models and Bayesian fitting techniques, ultra-deep Very Large Array 3 and 6 GHz observations, and an integrated analysis of various AGN selection techniques, including X-ray properties, UV to mid-IR SED analysis, optical spectral features, mid-IR colors, radio-loudness and spectral slope, and AGN variability. In total, we report ∼900 AGNs over the ∼170 arcmin2 3D-HST GOODS-S footprint, which has doubled the AGN number identified in the previous X-ray sample, with ∼26% of our sample undetected in the deepest Chandra image. With a summary of AGN demographics from different selection methods, we find that no one single band or technique comes close to selecting a complete AGN sample despite the great depth of the data in GOODS-S/HUDF. We estimate the yields of various approaches and explore the reasons for incompleteness. We characterize the statistical properties, such as source number density, obscuration fraction, and luminosity function of the AGN sample in this field, and discuss their immediate implications. We also provide some qualitative predictions of the AGN sample that might be discovered by the upcoming JWST surveys.

Detecting clusters of galaxies and active galactic nuclei in an eROSITA all-sky survey digital twin

Context. The extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array (eROSITA) on board the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) observatory is revolutionizing X-ray astronomy. The mission provides unprecedented samples of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and clusters of galaxies, with the potential of studying astrophysical properties of X-ray sources and measuring cosmological parameters using X-ray-selected samples with higher precision than ever before. Aims. We aim to study the detection, and the selection of AGN and clusters of galaxies in the first eROSITA all-sky survey, and to characterize the properties of the source catalog. Methods. We produced a half-sky simulation at the depth of the first eROSITA survey (eRASS1), by combining models that truthfully represent the population of clusters and AGN. In total, we simulated 1 116 758 clusters and 225 583 320 AGN. We ran the standard eROSITA detection algorithm, optimized for extragalactic sources. We matched the input and the source catalogs with a photon-based matching algorithm. Results. We perfectly recovered the bright AGN and clusters. We detected half of the simulated AGN with flux larger than 2 × 10−14 erg s−1 cm−2 as point sources and half of the simulated clusters with flux larger than 3 × 10−13 erg s−1 cm−2 as extended sources in the 0.5–2.0 keV band. We quantified the detection performance in terms of completeness, false detection rate, and contamination. We studied the population in the source catalog according to multiple cuts of source detection and extension likelihood. We find that the latter is suitable for removing contamination, and the former is very efficient in minimizing the false detection rate. We find that the detection of clusters of galaxies is mainly driven by flux and exposure time. It additionally depends on secondary effects, such as the size of the clusters on the sky plane and their dynamical state. The cool core bias mostly affects faint clusters classified as point sources, while its impact on the extent-selected sample is small. We measured the fraction of the area covered by our simulation as a function of limiting flux. We measured the X-ray luminosity of the detected clusters and find that it is compatible with the simulated values. Conclusions. We discuss how to best build samples of galaxy clusters for cosmological purposes, accounting for the nonuniform depth of eROSITA. This simulation provides a digital twin of the real eRASS1.

Properties of IR-selected active galactic nuclei

Context. Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) of galaxies play an important role in the life and evolution of galaxies through the impact they exert on certain properties and on the evolutionary path of galaxies. It is well known that infrared (IR) emission is useful for selecting galaxies with AGNs, although it has been observed that there is contamination by star-forming galaxies. Aims. We investigate the properties of galaxies that host AGNs that are identified at mid- (MIR) and near-IR wavelengths. The sample of AGNs selected at IR wavelengths was confirmed using optical spectroscopy and X-ray photometry. We study the near-UV, optical, near-IR and MIR properties, as well as the [O III] λ5007 luminosity, black hole mass, and morphology properties of optical and IR colour-selected AGNs. Methods. We selected AGN candidates using two MIR colour selection techniques: a power-law emission method, and a combination of MIR and near-IR selection techniques. We confirmed the AGN selection with two line diagnostic diagrams that use the ratio [O III]/Hβ and the emission line width σ[O III] (kinematics–excitation diagram, KEx) and the host galaxy stellar mass (mass–excitation diagram, MEx), as well as X-ray photometry. Results. According to the diagnostic diagrams, the methods with the greatest success in selecting AGNs are those that use a combination of a mid- and near-IR selection technique and a power-law emission. The method that uses a combination of MIR and near-IR observations selects a large number of AGNs and is reasonably efficient in the success rate (61%) and total number of AGNs recovered. We also find that the KEx method presents contamination of star-forming galaxies within the AGN selection box. According to morphological studies based on the Sérsic index, AGN samples have higher percentages of galaxy morphologies with bulge+disk components than galaxies without AGNs.

Galaxy pairs in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey – XV. Properties of ionized outflows

ABSTRACT Powerful outflows are thought to play a critical role in galaxy evolution and black hole growth. We present the first large-scale systematic study of ionized outflows in paired galaxies and post-mergers compared to a robust control sample of isolated galaxies. We isolate the impact of the merger environment to determine if outflow properties depend on merger stage. Our sample contains ∼4000 paired galaxies and ∼250 post-mergers in the local universe (0.02 ≤ z ≤ 0.2) from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (SDSS DR 7) matched in stellar mass, redshift, local density of galaxies, and [O iii] λ5007 luminosity to a control sample of isolated galaxies. By fitting the [O iii] λ5007 line, we find ionized outflows in ∼15 per cent of our entire sample. Outflows are much rarer in star-forming galaxies compared to active galactic nuclei (AGNs), and outflow incidence and velocity increase with [O iii] λ5007 luminosity. Outflow incidence is significantly elevated in the optical + mid-infrared selected AGN compared to purely optical AGN; over 60 per cent show outflows at the highest luminosities ($L_{\mathrm{[OIII]~\lambda 5007}}\, \gtrsim$ 1042 erg s−1), suggesting mid-infrared AGN selection favours galaxies with powerful outflows, at least for higher [O iii] λ5007 luminosities. However, we find no statistically significant difference in outflow incidence, velocity, and luminosity in mergers compared to isolated galaxies, and there is no dependence on merger stage. Therefore, while interactions are predicted to drive gas inflows and subsequently trigger nuclear star formation and accretion activity, when the power source of the outflow is controlled for, the merging environment has no further impact on the large-scale ionized outflows as traced by [O iii] λ5007.

AGN Selection Methods Have Profound Impacts on the Distributions of Host-galaxy Properties

Abstract We present a comparative study of X-ray and IR active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at z ≈ 2 to highlight the important AGN selection effects on the distributions of host-galaxy properties. Compared with non-AGN star-forming galaxies (SFGs) on the main sequence, X-ray AGNs have similar median star formation (SF) properties, but their incidence (q AGN) is higher among galaxies with either enhanced or suppressed SF, and among galaxies with a larger stellar-mass surface density, regardless if it is measured within the half-light radius (Σ e ) or central 1 kpc (Σ1kpc). Unlike X-ray AGNs, IR AGNs are less massive and have enhanced SF and similar distributions of colors, Σ e and Σ1kpc, relative to non-AGN SFGs. Given that Σ e and Σ1kpc strongly correlate with M *, we introduce the fractional mass within the central 1 kpc ( M 1 kpc / M ∗ ), which only weakly depends on M *, to quantify galaxy compactness. Both AGN populations have similar M 1 kpc / M ∗ distributions compared to non-AGN SFGs’. While q AGN increases with Σ e and Σ1kpc, it remains constant with M 1 kpc / M ∗ , indicating that the trend of increasing q AGN with Σ is driven by M * more than morphology. While our findings are not in conflict with the scenario of AGN quenching, they do not imply it either, because the incidence of AGNs hosted in transitional galaxies depends crucially on AGN selections. Additionally, despite the relatively large uncertainty of AGN bolometric luminosities, their very weak correlation, if any, with SF activities, regardless of AGN selections, also argues against a direct causal link between the presence of AGNs and the quenching of massive galaxies at z ∼ 2.

A Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Survey of Low-redshift Swift-BAT Active Galaxies*

Abstract We present initial results from a Hubble Space Telescope snapshot imaging survey of the host galaxies of Swift-BAT active galactic nuclei (AGN) at z &lt; 0.1. The hard X-ray selection makes this sample relatively unbiased in terms of obscuration, compared to optical AGN selection methods. The high-resolution images of 154 target AGN enable us to investigate the detailed photometric structure of the host galaxies, such as the Hubble type and merging features. We find 48% and 44% of the sample to be hosted by early-type and late-type galaxies, respectively. The host galaxies of the remaining 8% of the sample are classified as peculiar galaxies because they are heavily disturbed. Only a minor fraction of host galaxies (18%–25%) exhibit merging features (e.g., tidal tails, shells, or major disturbance). The merging fraction increases strongly as a function of bolometric AGN luminosity, revealing that merging plays an important role in triggering luminous AGN in this sample. However, the merging fraction is weakly correlated with the Eddington ratio, suggesting that merging does not necessarily lead to an enhanced Eddington ratio. Type 1 and Type 2 AGN are almost indistinguishable in terms of their Hubble type distribution and merging fraction. However, the merging fraction of Type 2 AGN peaks at a lower bolometric luminosity compared with those of Type 1 AGN. This result may imply that the triggering mechanism and evolutionary stages of Type 1 and Type 2 AGN are not identical.

Active galactic nuclei catalog from the AKARI NEP-Wide field

Context. The north ecliptic pole (NEP) field provides a unique set of panchromatic data that are well suited for active galactic nuclei (AGN) studies. The selection of AGN candidates is often based on mid-infrared (MIR) measurements. Such methods, despite their effectiveness, strongly reduce the breadth of resulting catalogs due to the MIR detection condition. Modern machine learning techniques can solve this problem by finding similar selection criteria using only optical and near-infrared (NIR) data. Aims. The aim of this study is to create a reliable AGN candidates catalog from the NEP field using a combination of optical SUBARU/HSC and NIR AKARI/IRC data and, consequently, to develop an efficient alternative for the MIR-based AKARI/IRC selection technique. Methods. We tested set of supervised machine learning algorithms for the purposes of carrying out an efficient process for AGN selection. The best models were compiled into a majority voting scheme, which used the most popular classification results to produce the final AGN catalog. An additional analysis of the catalog properties was performed as a spectral energy distribution fitting via the CIGALE software. Results. The obtained catalog of 465 AGN candidates (out of 33 119 objects) is characterized by 73% purity and 64% completeness. This new classification demonstrates a suitable consistency with the MIR-based selection. Moreover, 76% of the obtained catalog can be found solely using the new method due to the lack of MIR detection for most of the new AGN candidates. The training data, codes, and final catalog are available via the github repository. The final catalog of AGN candidates is also available via the CDS service. Conclusions. The new selection methods presented in this paper are proven to be a better alternative for the MIR color AGN selection. Machine learning techniques not only show similar effectiveness, but also involve less demanding optical and NIR observations, substantially increasing the extent of available data samples.

The AGN–galaxy–halo connection: the distribution of AGN host halo masses to z = 2.5

ABSTRACT It is widely reported, based on clustering measurements of observed active galactic nucleus (AGN) samples, that AGNs reside in similar mass host dark matter haloes across the bulk of cosmic time, with log $\mathcal {M}/\mathcal {M}_{\odot }\sim 12.5\!-\!13.0$ to z ∼ 2.5. We show that this is due in part to the AGN fraction in galaxies rising with increasing stellar mass, combined with AGN observational selection effects that exacerbate this trend. Here, we use AGN specific accretion rate distribution functions determined as a function of stellar mass and redshift for star-forming and quiescent galaxies separately, combined with the latest galaxy–halo connection models, to determine the parent and subhalo mass distribution function of AGNs to various observational limits. We find that while the median (sub)halo mass of AGNs, $\approx 10^{12}\mathcal {M}_{\odot }$, is fairly constant with luminosity, specific accretion rate, and redshift, the full halo mass distribution function is broad, spanning several orders of magnitude. We show that widely used methods to infer a typical dark matter halo mass based on an observed AGN clustering amplitude can result in biased, systematically high host halo masses. While the AGN satellite fraction rises with increasing parent halo mass, we find that the central galaxy is often not an AGN. Our results elucidate the physical causes for the apparent uniformity of AGN host haloes across cosmic time and underscore the importance of accounting for AGN selection biases when interpreting observational AGN clustering results. We further show that AGN clustering is most easily interpreted in terms of the relative bias to galaxy samples, not from absolute bias measurements alone.

A Low Incidence of Mid-infrared Variability in Dwarf Galaxies

Abstract Using 8.4 yr of photometry from the AllWISE/NEOWISE multi-epoch catalogs, we compare the mid-infrared variability properties of a sample of 2197 dwarf galaxies (M ⋆ &lt; 2 × 109 h −2 M ☉) to a sample of 6591 more massive galaxies (M ⋆ ≥ 1010 h −2 M ☉) matched in mid-infrared apparent magnitude. We find only two dwarf galaxies with mid-infrared variability, a factor of ∼10 less frequent than the more massive galaxies (p = 6 × 10−6), consistent with previous findings of optical variability in low-mass and dwarf galaxies using data with a similar baseline and cadence. Within the more massive control galaxy population, we see no evidence for a stellar mass dependence of mid-infrared variability, suggesting that this apparent reduction in the frequency of variable objects occurs below a stellar mass of ∼1010 h −2 M ☉. Compared to the more massive galaxies, active galactic nuclei (AGNs) selected in dwarf galaxies using either their mid-infrared color or optical emission-line classification are systematically missed by variability selection. Our results suggest, in agreement with previous optical studies at similar cadence, that variability selection of AGNs in dwarf galaxies is ineffective unless higher-cadence data are used.

Forward modelling the multiwavelength properties of active galactic nuclei: application to X-ray and WISE mid-infrared samples

ABSTRACT An empirical forward-modelling framework is developed to interpret the multiwavelength properties of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and provide insights into the overlap and incompleteness of samples selected at different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. The core of the model are observationally derived probabilites on the occupation of galaxies by X-ray-selected AGN. These are used to seed mock galaxies drawn from stellar-mass functions with accretion events and then associate them with spectral energy distributions that describe both the stellar and AGN emission components. This approach is used to study the complementarity between X-ray and WISE mid-infrared AGN selection methods. We first show that the basic observational properties of the X-ray and WISE AGN (magnitude and redshift distributions) are adequately reproduced by the model. We then infer the level of contamination of the WISE selection and show that this is dominated by non-AGN at redshifts z &amp;lt; 0.5. These are star-forming galaxies that scatter into the WISE AGN selection wedge because of photometric uncertainties affecting their colours. Our baseline model shows a sharp drop in the number density of heavily obscured AGN above the Compton-thick limit in the WISE bands. The model also overpredicts by a factor of 1.5 the fraction of X-ray associations in the WISE AGN selection box compared to observations. This suggests a population of X-ray faint sources that is not reproduced by the model. This discrepancy is discussed in the context of either heavily obscured or intrinsically X-ray weak AGN. Evidence is found in favour of the latter.

Environments of dwarf galaxies with optical AGN characteristics

ABSTRACT This study aims to explore the relation between dwarf galaxies (M* ≤ 5 × 109 M⊙) with active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and their environment by comparing neighbourhood parameters of AGN and non-AGN samples. Using the NASA-Sloan Atlas, both the local environment and the immediate environment of dwarf galaxies with z ≤ 0.055 are analysed. Of the 145 155 galaxies in the catalogue, 62 258 of them are classified as dwarf galaxies, and by employing two AGN selection methods based on emission-line fluxes (BPT and WHAN), 4476 are found to have AGN characteristics in their optical spectra. Regardless of selection method, this study finds no discernible differences in environment between AGN and non-AGN host dwarf galaxies and these results indicate that environment is not an important factor in triggering AGN activity in dwarf galaxies. This is in line with existing literature on environments of regular galaxies with AGNs and suggests universality in terms of reaction to environment across the mass regime. The biases of AGN selection in low-mass galaxies, and the biases of different measures of environment are also considered. It is found that there are several mass trends in emission-line ratios and that the SDSS fibre covers galaxies non-uniformly with redshift. These biases should be accounted for in future work by possibly including other wavelength regimes or mass weighting of emission-line ratios. Lastly, a discussion of the environment estimation methods is included since they may not gauge the desired properties due to factors such as time delay or using loosely constrained proxy parameters.